Snappycroc's Outbox

Hi Joey I am putting photos up on the snappycrocsgarden blog site.I took 270 photos yesterday.I have just done the Floral marquee part of my day which took a few hours!
I will add them bit by bit this week between working long days.

Thanks Floriade,I agree.Experimental gardening will teach you more than books.Not even all the answers are in books.Over time your gardening should work out soil, climate, and the strange quirks of every individual garden.It will evolve over time if you work with it, and not against it.

love this Iris!The anglosaxons loved it, which shows how long it has been native to Britain.I want some flag iris if i ever have a pond as marginal planting! The yellow petals are beautifully coloured and textured with stripes the one I saw!

Thanks Holly,I will buy it.My blog talks a lot about healing gardens (still trying to get hold of a PBS film called Healing gardens of New York..the video company emailed me to tell me about it after reading one of my posts).In the book growing out of trouble he trys to use gardening to heal the damage that drug taking had done to the people. Physical, mental, and socially...Thanks for telling me :)

I do too David.I still think experimental gardening teaches us more than slavishly following a book which says do this now and this then.
There are always more than one way to do anything.Its the 50% that works that makes you happy you tried!
My gardening before was driven by instinct and genes I think.From hedge cutting, to grass mowing, to planting, to seed sowing.
After I had done I often googled to see what other people do.The internet is like one big neighbourhood fence, so you can see gardens from all over the world and compare notes about pests and problems, plant care, and growing them.
The weather this year has been wierd, hottest april on record, then rain and flooding.July is 10 days from finishing.
Better to go with instinct this year ahead of books :)

I think the Miners would appreciate the light and air of a garden after being down the pits!I bet they used to grow delicate roses and Dahlias and Chresanthenums.Who's going to argue with a strapping Burly miner?Those plus large vegetables.I truly think Gardening is one of lifes activities that crosses gender, age, nationality, or even Country.The very rich have elaborate gardens, the very poor will grow but on a smaller budget.
If you know where the Monty Don articles are I would be pleased to read them.I know he has a history of severe depression, and indeed on TV I can see how he is beneath the exterior.Thats a nursing trait reading what people are like.He is most animated and excited talking about plants, salads, herbs, or fruits!
I love the Wizard of Oz theme.Record it all in photos and when its do you will have a record.Its like a show garden idea at Chelsea.
I have found a lot of health care workers (Doctors and nurses,esp) love their gardens.I always put it down to needing to unwind.I know how Surgeons can be and they are worse in Theatre!
I work in a Medical Admissions unit, the front line of hospital admissions.The gardening is the antidote to the chaos and stresses.
Thats why I always felt better after walking around the garden?The Serotonin levels in my head perk up.If you are on your knees examining a newly budded flower, or smelling the most fragrant rose then the stress melts away.
I hope the theatre nurse passes her exam.Im a long way from that yet :)

I love the Passionflower.My sister had one already growing in her garden in Rochester.Mum cut it back and its regrown with vigour and flowered.I have a passiflora Caerulia growing in a pot, but it hasnt flowered.It wants a garden with a wall or fence to get its teeth into.
These are the original and most passionflowers I think.My minds image of the spectacular flowers are like your photo.

I have three Gazania tiger stripes plants growing,but none have even got a hint of a flower bud.Mine are growing indoors, wander if they need sunlight to encourage them to flower?Yours is beautiful.

I love the Tinman.He looks really happy too :)

Spritzhenry I dont belong to the RHS yet.My gardening friend Hils is a member so if she goes with me I dont pay.RHS Harlow Carr is the nearest one to me, and the one I have been to twice.
I want to visit all four RHS gardens eventually.There are three down south, and the Northern one.As im in Yorkshire its good to know what can grow in testing conditions.
I will keep updating about my experimental seeds!

I take it you love the film or book the Wizard of Oz?The plant I thought of was Amaranthus Caudatus.Love lies bleeding.I think love in the mist (Nigellas) would also go well.
Have you put photo up of tinman yet?It sounds very cool, good example of Recycling, and an heirloom feature in your garden.

Thanks Peter, the day I move out of my flat into a house with a garden will be awesome.Five months left on this contract.The walls are damp, and i have had numerous plants keel over from the environment.They want some soil, fresh air, and sunshine!
Hi Tussiemussie I will look at the My garden facility, and see if it can help others.I am just a passionate amateur really, although the courses will hone my passion i hope :)
Spritzhenry,I am starting with the Level 3 because I did A'level biology before my Bsc in Nursing.The level 2 I looked at was quite basic, like a GCSE.If thats what you want to do go for it.I am doing it because I have felt the urge to do something I love.The learning and stretching my brain again will be good I think.I want ultimately to progress to the RHS Diploma, and Ultimately the Master Gardener certificate.To do that you need to pass the Advanced certificate.Its the first door that opens the others.Let me know if you decide to start.I need all the support I can get!

I have been Twice now.My blog on blogspot has over two hundred photos of Harlow Carr.It is a fabulous 58 acre site, with Harlow Beck cutting the valley in Half.I want to see it in all seasons too.I will go back in August too.